The Catawba County's Old
Soldier's Reunion was conceived by and dedicated to those
who served in the War Between the States. Some cynics
claim it was a different world then. If we examine that
previous society and its economic and political scene, we
can plainly show that the soldiers fought for patriotic
reasons, not for their support of slavery.

In 1860, the Catawba
County population was 9,059. One of every three Catawba
men who marched off to war never returned; fully 600 of
the 1,800 who enlisted. The same ratio today would
require sending nearly 27,000 Catawbans off to war, 9,000
dying as a result of battle.

The 600 men who died
are those whom we choose to honor. We tried to erect a
memorial on the old courthouse grounds similar in theme
to the other Catawbans who died in wars past. Our
memorial was to be paid for with donations that we would
raise. The Catawba County Historical Association strung
us along before finally refusing to support our project.
The County Commissioners meekly rubber-stamped the
refusal.

The SCV floats in the
Reunion parade were relegated to 50th and 56th
position. I wonder what the Old Soldiers would have
thought.

Derick S. Hartshorn

(The author is a prominent genealogist in
Catawba County, a member of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans, and is their webmaster at www.CatawbaSCV.org)

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